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Report: Five times more attacks on refugee homes in Germany in 2015

German press and local governments have reported that violent acts targeting asylum-seeker housing increased by five times last year. The news came on the heels of a grenade attack in the south of the country.

Attacks on refugee housing increased by a factor of five in 2015 compared to 2014, German media reported on Friday. According to public broadcasters WDR and ARD, there were more than 1,000 attacks on accommodations for asylum seekers, running the gamut from arson to offensive graffiti.

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia, home to the most refugees, was also drastically in front of the 15 other states in terms of attacks, jumping from 25 incidents in 2014 to 214 last year. Lower Saxony ranked second in attacks and saw 89 acts of violence in 2015.

"There is no way to know if these crimes are being planned on the spot or interregionally," WDR quoted North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Ralf Jäger as saying.

The journalists' research found that most of the perpetrators come from the areas where the refugee housing is located and are not connected to any nationwide network of right-wing extremists.

Of the exactly 1,005 registered attacks, the authorities estimate that 901 were motivated by far-right ideology.

Fireman charged with arson

The broadcaster gave one particularly grave example of a 25-year-old man in the town of Altena in North Rhine-Westphalia. The one-time fireman disabled the fire alarm of a home for asylum seekers, crawled onto the roof and using knowledge from his job, set fire to the building, where seven Syrian refugees were staying. They were alerted to the blaze only when passing visitors, originally looking to welcome the new arrivals, saw the fire and warned those inside.

When the man was arrested, according to WDR, his only defense was that he was afraid of the refugees.

Police in Villingen-Schwenningen were asking witnesses to come forward after the attack

Grenade attack

Friday also saw one of the more sinister attacks that Germany has experienced thus far. An assailant threw a hand grenade at the initial arrival center in the Black Forest town of Villingen-Schwenningen in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg. The attack, which occurred at 1:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT/UTC), did not end in injury as the grenade failed to explode. The police immediately cordoned off the area and began to search for suspects and to diffuse the explosive.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere blasted the attack as "unacceptable" and "cowardly" on the German news channel N24. He called for a swift probe to bring the perpetrators to justice, while Justice Minister Heiko Maas said he would call a meeting of his counterparts in all of Germany's 16 states in March to discuss a stronger crackdown on far-right crimes.

It is likely, however, that the attacker will disappear into the ether. According to the WDR report, only one-fourth of attacks on refugee homes - whether they be a swastika spray-painted outside the door, property damage, or more violent acts - end in an arrest and the crime being solved in courts.

The Refugees and Their Stories

HAMBER AL ISSA FROM SYRIA

Hamber was a surgeon in Damascus. He left his homeland - for reasions that he declines to discuss. He hopes he'll be able to go back one day. In fact, he'd like to return as quickly as possible - and start his own medical center.

The Refugees and Their Stories

MACEDONIA

Hamber travelled to Germany via the "Balkan Route." After he arrived in Macedonia, he continued on foot to the Serbian border. Every time he reached a town or city, he'd let his family know where he was, via the internet. Hamber's parents are quite worried for his safety.

The Refugees and Their Stories

CROATIA

Hamber wanted to travel by train from Croatia to Hungary - but it took him two days to finally get a place.

The Refugees and Their Stories

ARRIVAL IN GERMANY

Hamber is not yet able to work as a doctor in Germany - but he's working to get the proper qualifications. In the meantime, he's working as a translator in a medical facility.

The Refugees and Their Stories

TOBA SHIRMOHAMMADI FROM AFGHANISTAN

Toba is 16 years old. She fled from the city of Herat. There have been attacks on school-girls there, because some people don't want them to get an education. But Toba wants to study, and plans to take courses that will prepare her for college.

The Refugees and Their Stories

TOBA AND HER FAMILY

Toba travelled to Germany with her two sisters and their husbands. Their journey took them through Iran, Turkey, Greece, and the Balkan region.

The Refugees and Their Stories

WAITING TO TRAVEL FURTHER

Toba and her family had to wait in a refugee reception center in Macedonia before they could continue their journey to Serbia.

The Refugees and Their Stories

TOBA SHIRMOHAMMADI

Toba hopes to study in Germany - but first, she has to learn the language. Her goal is to be able to live on her own.

The Refugees and Their Stories

AHMED ALWAN, HEBA ALWAN AND SALEH ZEER FROM SYRIA

Ahmed (center), his wife Heba, and his friend Saleh had to leave their homes in Syria. Ahmed worked as a journalist for several Arabic-language broadcasters. Heba was an architect. Saleh had just about finished his undergraduate work in engineering when he left Syria.

The Refugees and Their Stories

IDLIB, SYRIA

Ahmed, Heba, and Saleh come from the city of Idlib, in northwestern Syria. The city has been bombed heavily. After Islamist fighters took over Idlib, it became extremely difficult for journalists to do their jobs. Some of the militants even threatened Ahmed - and that's when he, Heba, and Saleh decided to leave.

The Refugees and Their Stories

JANA ALWAN

Ahmed and Heba brought their one-year-old daughter Jana with them.

The Refugees and Their Stories

ON THE WAY TO GERMANY

Like many other refugees, they travelled over the "Balkan Route" to Germany. They want to return to Syria as soon as things there improve. Ahmed wants to work again as a journalist. Saleh wants to finish his engineering studies. Heba wants to use her architectural skills to help rebuild her country.